What WR's make the team this year?

[Hasselbeck]

I kind of alluded to this in Norwood's selection thread but figured it merited its own thread..

As of now, the Seahawks have 12 WR's on the roster. In my opinion, 4 of these guys are locks to be on the final 53.. meaning 2 or 3 spots are still up for grabs, depending on how many WR's the Seahawks wish to carry on the final roster. (I tend to believe they will only carry 6).

Those locks IMO are..
- Harvin
- Baldwin (figure he will interchange with Harvin between flanker and slot)
- Kearse
- Richardson

On the bubble
- Sidney Rice
- Kevin Norwood (R)
- Ricardo Lockette
- Taylor Price
- Bryan Walters
- Phil Bates
- Chris Matthews
- Arceto Clark

On the surface, I think Lockette offers a lot of value on special teams.. which cannot be discounted. Kevin Norwood has a great story and tremendous upside.. but I don't consider him a lock to make the final 53. Far from it actually. And before you scoff at that, remember this team cut 4th round WR Chris Harper a year ago.

Sidney Rice could very well be expendable if Norwood plays well and PC/JS determine Lockette brings more value to kick/punt coverage than Rice would the offense. Or, they may even try to keep 7 WR's.. which then shortens another position.

Price/Walters/Bates/Matthews/Clark all figure to have a major uphill climb to make the roster, considering who is ahead of them.. but perhaps they can stash a couple of these guys (likely Matthews and Bates) on the practice squad.

What say you? What do you think the final WR depth chart will look like when it's all said and done?

 

[Blitzer88]

I think we keep 7 this year because we won't be carrying 2 fullbacks this year thus freeing up 1 roster spot somewhere else.

1. Harvin
2. Baldwin
3. Kearse
4. Richardson
5. Norwood
6. Rice
7. Lockett

 

[Hawknballs]

Going to depend on who can contribute on special teams and how many QB's we keep.



The TJack/Pryor battle is going to open up a spot should one of them get cut. If we carry 3 QB's, that's doom for one of the WR's.

Wilson
Jackson
Pryor

Another factor will be how many RB's we keep - because we aren't keeping them all. Assuming Robinson retires, we are still left with a crowded backfield.

Lynch
Turbin
Michael
Ware
Coleman
Small

Locks:

Harvin
Baldwin

Likely:

Kearse
Richardson
Norwood

Kearse has been clutch and it's unlikely we would cut someone we just drafted in the 2nd round. That being said this team won't keep guys out of what they did last year or when they are drafted, so there's a chance neither of these guys could make the team however unlikely. I put Norwood in this category only because I think he has a really good chance of establishing a really good relationship with Wilson; everything about his game says he can be a huge asset to a QB that likes to get out of the pocket and extend plays.

On the bubble:

Sidney Rice
Ricardo Lockette
Bryan Walters

For Rice, he's going to need to prove he's healthy and he needs to prove he's a better option than the rookies. Not being a special teams contributor keeps him on the bubble. Lockette is sort of in the same boat, but flipped - great special teams guy, but less productive as a receiver. Walters gets lumped into this group because I think there is a reason he's been the guy being moved up to the active roster during the season. The coaching staff must like him.

Not Likely:

Taylor Price
Bryan Walters
Phil Bates
Chris Matthews
Arceto Clark

Traditionally speaking the Seahawks allocate 12-13 players between the QB/RB/WR spots.

Lets assume we go with 2 QB as we have the past few seasons:

QB1 Wilson
QB2 Jackson

RB1 Lynch
RB2 Turbin
RB3 Michael
FB1 Coleman
FB2 Small

I'm removing Ware from the list because someone's gotta go, but that could just as easily be Coleman or Small. I don't see us keeping 6 receivers.

That really leaves us with 6 receivers. I Sincerely doubt we keep 7. The ONLY way we keep 7 is if we keep Rice on the roster and the coaches feel like we need special teams help, but I don't see it.

WR1 Harvin
WR2 Baldwin
WR3 Kearse
WR4 Richardson
WR5 Norwood
WR6 Rice/Lockette


We also have to consider TE:

TE1 Miller
TE2 Mccoy
TE3 Willson

Not sure about the order as I'm not sure how the team values McCoy vs. Willson. You'd have to think both guys make the 53.

So that leaves our Linemen. Since we have a total of 16 players slotted so far, that leaves room for 9 O-linemen (assuming you are balancing 25 players on offense/defense, minus the 3 spots for your kickers and long snapper)

Currently the team has 12.

T:

Okung
Bailey
Bowie
Hautpmann
Britt

G:

Sweezy
Carpenter
Smith
Shilling
Scott

C:

Unger
Jeanpierre


Long story short - we will probably keep 6 WR's. I expect Norwood and Richardson to make the team. To me it's going to come down to how much special teams help we need losing guys like maragos vs. how healthy can sidney rice stay.

 

[Sports Hernia]

Going to depend on who can contribute on special teams and how many QB's we keep.



The TJack/Pryor battle is going to open up a spot should one of them get cut. If we carry 3 QB's, that's doom for one of the WR's.

Wilson
Jackson
Pryor

Another factor will be how many RB's we keep - because we aren't keeping them all. Assuming Robinson retires, we are still left with a crowded backfield.

Lynch
Turbin
Michael
Ware
Coleman
Small

Locks:

Harvin
Baldwin

Likely:

Kearse
Richardson
Norwood

Kearse has been clutch and it's unlikely we would cut someone we just drafted in the 2nd round. That being said this team won't keep guys out of what they did last year or when they are drafted, so there's a chance neither of these guys could make the team however unlikely. I put Norwood in this category only because I think he has a really good chance of establishing a really good relationship with Wilson; everything about his game says he can be a huge asset to a QB that likes to get out of the pocket and extend plays.

On the bubble:

Sidney Rice
Ricardo Lockette
Bryan Walters

For Rice, he's going to need to prove he's healthy and he needs to prove he's a better option than the rookies. Not being a special teams contributor keeps him on the bubble. Lockette is sort of in the same boat, but flipped - great special teams guy, but less productive as a receiver. Walters gets lumped into this group because I think there is a reason he's been the guy being moved up to the active roster during the season. The coaching staff must like him.

Not Likely:

Taylor Price
Bryan Walters
Phil Bates
Chris Matthews
Arceto Clark

Traditionally speaking the Seahawks allocate 12-13 players between the QB/RB/WR spots.

Lets assume we go with 2 QB as we have the past few seasons:

QB1 Wilson
QB2 Jackson

RB1 Lynch
RB2 Turbin
RB3 Michael
FB1 Coleman
FB2 Small

I'm removing Ware from the list because someone's gotta go, but that could just as easily be Coleman or Small. I don't see us keeping 6 receivers.

That really leaves us with 6 receivers. I Sincerely doubt we keep 7. The ONLY way we keep 7 is if we keep Rice on the roster and the coaches feel like we need special teams help, but I don't see it.

WR1 Harvin
WR2 Baldwin
WR3 Kearse
WR4 Richardson
WR5 Norwood
WR6 Rice/Lockette


We also have to consider TE:

TE1 Miller
TE2 Mccoy
TE3 Willson

Not sure about the order as I'm not sure how the team values McCoy vs. Willson. You'd have to think both guys make the 53.

So that leaves our Linemen. Since we have a total of 16 players slotted so far, that leaves room for 9 O-linemen (assuming you are balancing 25 players on offense/defense, minus the 3 spots for your kickers and long snapper)

Currently the team has 12.

T:

Okung
Bailey
Bowie
Hautpmann
Britt

G:

Sweezy
Carpenter
Smith
Shilling
Scott

C:

Unger
Jeanpierre


Long story short - we will probably keep 6 WR's. I expect Norwood and Richardson to make the team. To me it's going to come down to how much special teams help we need losing guys like maragos vs. how healthy can sidney rice stay.

This team is going to have some tough cuts. There will be some players who got a Super Bowl ring last year looking for work this year .

 

[KPA]

The 4 things I believe on offence are:

1. Pryor & TJack are battling for #2. Whoever loses is cut.

2. Price will be on the PS.

3. Turbin will be cut, moving C. Mike to #2.

4. S. Rice & Lockett will not make the final cut.

 

[SeaTown81]

Been reading this conversation take places multiple places online. Two thoughts:

1) The average Seahawks fan highly underestimates/undervalues Sidney Rice. And I'm not talking from an injury standpoint. Many seem to consider him a whatever, expendable player. Taking the injury recovery factor out of things, that couldn't be more off-base. But he is coming back from injury, so that will be the factor. If he's healthy, he makes this team. Period. He's not making much on the new deal, and he offers something that the Hawks don't have, at a skill level they don't have. When he went down last year, teams immediately started playing the other Hawks wr's differently. It just so coincided with a period where the Hawks were having trouble with their passing game, and when a lot of fans starting jumping on the "The wr's aren't getting separation" train. It's really dumb that it even needs to be pointed out. Some fans really need to get over the expectations that came with his big deal when he was originally signed. None of that matters in terms of the player he is, and the contract he's under.

2) The average Seahawks fan highly overrates Ricardo Lockette as a special teams ace. This new opinion is solely based on a couple of big hits he had at the end of last year. One of which, was penalized. Don't get me wrong. Dude is big and very fast. And that can lead to some big highlight plays on special teams. But that's not the most important aspect to playing special teams. Consistency factors a lot more over highlights. Lockette isn't exactly the most sound tackler. His two big plays were him recklessly flying a a guy looking up in the air. He's a solid to good gunner. But I don't feel he's good overall enough to keep on the roster over a young WR like Kevin Norwood with MUCH MUCH MUCH more upside as an actual wide receiver. In that regard, Lockette is what he is. Not much more than a guy who can burn down the field and catch a ball every once in a while. Not a player I'd keep over Rice or Norwood.

The way I see it:

Harvin
Baldwin
Kearse
Rice
Richardson
Norwood

A lot of people seem to think that the new rooks might spell the end of Doug Baldwin when his deal is up. I'm not so sure about that. I think the Hawks value Baldwin, and that his price won't exactly be a killer that they'll have to pass on like they did with Tate. No, the guy I think it might signal won't be extended is Jermaine Kearse. I don't know when his contract is up. But the big plays he's made for this team in the playoffs and Super Bowl has to have upped his profile. And for someone who isn't exactly a focal point of the Hawks offense, I have a hard time seeing the Hawks able to pay him what some other team will likely offer a young guy like him with upside. I think it's going to come down to Baldwin or Kearse, with Baldwin being the guy they view as more vital to RW.

 

[DavidSeven]

^good post above.

I'm leaning toward Harvin, Baldwin, Kearse, Richardson and Rice as locks. Norwood and Lockette on the bubble, but Lock may need to have the best pre-season of his life to pull the upset over Norwood.

The guy who this depth may really spell doom for is Terrelle Pryor, especially if they feel good about Price as a practice squad prospect and unofficial QB3. Unlike Pryor, they can keep Price or Daniels by stashing them on PS without compromising a roster spot that could otherwise go to an extra WR, RB or OL.

 

[Pandion Haliaetus]

For me I'm not going to finalize it... there is still a training camp of competition to be held plus pre-season.

I will say this, Seahawks were likely going for Paul Richardson the whole way.

And I feel they loved Norwood but was 100% sure if he was going to make it to their 4th round pick, so they signed Rice as that insurance.

I do feel that both Richardson/Norwood will make the team but they have to prove it on the field in practice.

And I feel the Seahawks will carry 7 Backs (3QBs/4RBs or 2 QBs/5RBs), 6 WRs, 3 TEs, and 10 OL for 26 Offensive Players.

 

[razgriz737]

If you watch Schneider's post-draft interviews he really gushes over Norwood. I have a hard time believing he won't make the roster, barring a terrible preseason. I know we cut Harper last year but IIRC he was really raw and had only played at WR for part of his college career. Norwood seems much more polished.

 

[Scottemojo]

I think it will be Buh Bye Lockette.
Kearse, Rice, Baldwin, Harvin, Norwood, RIchardson make the final roster.

 

[SalishHawkFan]

Excellent stuff you guys. Was working on the roster analysis and stopped when I saw HawkNBalls post had already done what I was going to do. Good points by Seatown about Rice. He's greatly under rated. When healthy a threat. Of course, guy has to show he's not about to retire from his injuries. This is make or break time for his career. If he's healthy, then we go wtih

Harvin
Baldwin
Rice
Kearse
Richardson
Norwood

with Lockette, etc. jobs depending on whether we keep two FB's or one.

IMO, Small is there to help CMike learn how to block and that's about it. I know some are liking that pick, but I don't see him making the team. That still leaves Lynch, Turbin, CMike, Coleman as locks and Lockette, etc. fighting it out with Ware.

 

[Hawkfan77]

Harvin
Kearse
Baldwin
Rice
Richardson
Norwood

Lockette, with his ST play should make the team, I just don't know who's spot he takes because I don't think we carry 7 WRs

 

[razgriz737]

IMO, Small is there to help CMike learn how to block and that's about it.

That's a pretty good point. Watching the videos posted of Small, he doesn't always land a perfect block, but he seemingly always locks on to the right guy.

 

[hawknation2014]

Been reading this conversation take places multiple places online. Two thoughts:

1) The average Seahawks fan highly underestimates/undervalues Sidney Rice. And I'm not talking from an injury standpoint. Many seem to consider him a whatever, expendable player. Taking the injury recovery factor out of things, that couldn't be more off-base. But he is coming back from injury, so that will be the factor. If he's healthy, he makes this team. Period. He's not making much on the new deal, and he offers something that the Hawks don't have, at a skill level they don't have. When he went down last year, teams immediately started playing the other Hawks wr's differently. It just so coincided with a period where the Hawks were having trouble with their passing game, and when a lot of fans starting jumping on the "The wr's aren't getting separation" train. It's really dumb that it even needs to be pointed out. Some fans really need to get over the expectations that came with his big deal when he was originally signed. None of that matters in terms of the player he is, and the contract he's under.

2) The average Seahawks fan highly overrates Ricardo Lockette as a special teams ace. This new opinion is solely based on a couple of big hits he had at the end of last year. One of which, was penalized. Don't get me wrong. Dude is big and very fast. And that can lead to some big highlight plays on special teams. But that's not the most important aspect to playing special teams. Consistency factors a lot more over highlights. Lockette isn't exactly the most sound tackler. His two big plays were him recklessly flying a a guy looking up in the air. He's a solid to good gunner. But I don't feel he's good overall enough to keep on the roster over a young WR like Kevin Norwood with MUCH MUCH MUCH more upside as an actual wide receiver. In that regard, Lockette is what he is. Not much more than a guy who can burn down the field and catch a ball every once in a while. Not a player I'd keep over Rice or Norwood.

The way I see it:

Harvin
Baldwin
Kearse
Rice
Richardson
Norwood

A lot of people seem to think that the new rooks might spell the end of Doug Baldwin when his deal is up. I'm not so sure about that. I think the Hawks value Baldwin, and that his price won't exactly be a killer that they'll have to pass on like they did with Tate. No, the guy I think it might signal won't be extended is Jermaine Kearse. I don't know when his contract is up. But the big plays he's made for this team in the playoffs and Super Bowl has to have upped his profile. And for someone who isn't exactly a focal point of the Hawks offense, I have a hard time seeing the Hawks able to pay him what some other team will likely offer a young guy like him with upside. I think it's going to come down to Baldwin or Kearse, with Baldwin being the guy they view as more vital to RW.

I agree. How does two tackles in eight games make someone a great special teams player?

X Kearse, Norwood
Y Harvin, Richardson
Z Baldwin, Rice

 

[kearly]

I think Lockette is legit as a special teams ace, he made more than two impressive plays there, and he also made a terrific catch in the Super Bowl on a complex route. But yeah, he's outside looking in. He'll need one of the other WRs to get injured for him to make the team.

 

[kf3339]

Excellent stuff you guys. Was working on the roster analysis and stopped when I saw HawkNBalls post had already done what I was going to do. Good points by Seatown about Rice. He's greatly under rated. When healthy a threat. Of course, guy has to show he's not about to retire from his injuries. This is make or break time for his career. If he's healthy, then we go wtih

Harvin
Baldwin
Rice
Kearse
Richardson
Norwood

with Lockette, etc. jobs depending on whether we keep two FB's or one.

IMO, Small is there to help CMike learn how to block and that's about it. I know some are liking that pick, but I don't see him making the team. That still leaves Lynch, Turbin, CMike, Coleman as locks and Lockette, etc. fighting it out with Ware.

Why do we need a 7th round RB to teach CMike how to block when we have a staff of coaches that can and should have handled this over the last year? To me it's just a wasted pick to assume he comes in to in affect coach one of our RB's on blocking and then just get cut.

If anything CMike should have been asking MRob or even Lynch for help since they have actual NFL playing experience. Also if CMike is still having issues after a full season of teaching then perhaps he just isn't going to get it right. If that's the case then the team should just use him as an RB to run or catch the ball as a home run threat. Not every RB is cut out to be proficient at everything.

But if the team keeps him inactive again for this whole season just because of his blocking issue then it was a wasted pick.

 

[chris98251]

So many want absolutes in everything, REDSHIRT he had a previous injury and I think they wanted him to get more of a NFL body, they also had good depth already and could afford to coach him up. We won a Super Bowl without him on the field, we have the luxury of being able to groom guys. As a fan I guess you can be dissapointed that a favorite draft pick isn't on the field, I get that same frusteration only to step back and think this is a great problem to have. We don't need to scramble and pay bad contracts trying to fill a need since they are already here, we have guys in front of them that make them work hard to step into those positions, guys like Lane and Maxwell as examples, or Kearse. Bowie and Bailey on the line got a lot of experience.

It's not a waste if they are long term solutions and can step in with minimal transition time.

 

[razgriz737]

I'm sure we have plenty of guys on the roster who could fill any void Lockette would leave on ST.

 

[AgentDib]

I think Norwood is the major wildcard (of any new Seahawk) just because it is so rare that this FO drafts a player whose production and tape looked much better than their measurables. It's usually the other way around by a large margin as they draft those elite athletes nobody has heard of and trust their system to develop them into good football players.

Something about Norwood really appealed to the FO and as a result nothing would surprise me. I could see him starting over Rice or getting cut in the first wave.

 

[Throwdown]

The locks in my mind are...

Harvin
Baldwin
Richardson
Kearse
Norwood

Kearse can play special teams, but if they keep 6, I think the deciding factors between Rice & Lockette would be

- Is Rice fully healed and fully healthy?
- Do you trust Rice to be healthy?

Rice isn't going to play special teams at any point ever in his career. We know he's talented as can be, but can you trust to have that talent on the team in the middle of season, and not that talent standing in street clothes on the sidelines? As opposed to Lockette who isn't much of an offensive weapon, even if he showed a sliver of talent last season. With Lockette you're talking about a receiver who is pretty much you gunner on ST, and in an unfortunate emergency can be a body at receiver when you need a bigger guy, no real injury concerns with him either, but you take a dive at the talent part of this whole comparison when it comes to the 6th and final receiver.